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AST

BY YORK

LIBRARY

old trades: they would be useful then; they are a curse now. If you approve of this plan, please to communicate it to the public, through the channel of your useful paper. A SUBALTERN IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY.

Golden Ball Tavern, Middletown, Sept. 22d, 1777.

The ancient burying ground in Middletown, was laid out in 1650: it is situated in the north part of the city, on the banks of Connecticut River. A majestic elm is still standing in the yard, on the spot where it stood at the first settlement of Middletown. It measured in 1832, at two feet from the ground, 26 feet in circumference: at the height of ten feet, it measures 17 feet. It spreads from N. to S. 110 feet, from E. to W. 95 feet. The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in this yard.

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HERE'S A CEDAR TALL, GENTLY WAFTED O'ER

FROM GREAT BRITAN'S ISLE TO THIS WESTERN SHORE,
NEAR FIFTY YEARS CROSSING THE OCEAN WIDE,

YET'S ANCHOR'D IN THE GRAVE FROM STORM OR TIDE,

YET REMEMBER THE BODY ONELY HERE,

HIS BLESSED SOVL FIXT IN A HIGHER SPHERE.

Here lies the body of Giles Hamlin, 'squire, Adged 67 years, who departed this life the first day of September, Anno Dom. 1689.

Here lies interred the body of Mary, the virtuous consort of Jabez Hamlin, Esq. and daughter of ye Hon'ble Christopher Christophers, Esq. of New London, who fell asleep April ye 3d, A. D. 1736, in ye 22d year of her age.

EPITAPH.

So fair, so young, so innocent, so sweet,
So ripe a judgment, and so rare a wit,
Require at least an Age in one to meet:

In her they met, but long they could not stay,

'Twas gold too fine to mix without allay.

In memory of Mrs. Desire, late wife of Mr. Abner Ely, died Sept. 1st, 1764, aged 48 years.

A loving wife, and tender mother,

Left this base world to enjoy the other.

Sacred to the memory of Com. Thomas Macdonough, of the U. S. Navy. He was born in the State of Delaware, Dec. 1783, and died at sea, of pulmonary consumption, while on his return from the command of the American squadron in the Mediterranean, on the 10th of Nov. 1825. He was distinguished in the world as the Hero of Lake Champlain; in the Church of Christ, as a faithful, zealous and consistent Christian character; in the community in which he resided when absent from professional duty, an amiable, upright and valuable citizen.

Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Lucy Ann, wife of Com. Thomas Macdonough, and daughter of Nathaniel and Lucy Ann Shaler. The richest gifts of Nature and Grace adorned her mind and heart; and at her death, Genius, Friendship and Piety, mourned their common loss. She preceded her husband to the realms of glory only a few short months, having departed this life Aug. 9th, 1825, Æ 35.

They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided.

To commemorate the piety and virtues of Mrs. Louisa, wife of Lieut. Horace Sawyer, U. S. Navy, daughter of Nathaniel and Lucy Ann Shaler, who departed this life on Monday, 15th Dec. 1828, aged 24. This stone is erected by her husband.

Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee,
Since God was thy refuge, thy ransom, thy guide;

He gave thee, he took thee, and he will restore thee,
And Death has no sting since the Savior has died.

Here is interred the mortal remains of Doctor John Osborn.-Ask nothing further, traveller; nothing better can be said, nor nothing shorter. Ob. 31st May, 1753, Æ 40. Life how short, Eternity how long.

The monument on which this is engraved, had formerly a very pompous inscription, furnished by the executors. When his son, of the same name, came of age, he had the whole effaced, and inserted the above. It is to be regretted that this record is lost, as the father, Dr. Osborn, besides being a very distinguished physician, was one of the first scholars and poets of the day: the following Whaling Song of his has obtained some celebrity.

A WHALING SONG.

When spring returns with western gales,
And gentle breezes sweep,

The ruffling seas, we spread our sails
To plough the wat'ry deep.

For killing northern whales prepared,
Our nimble boats on board,

With craft and rum, (our chief regard,)
And good provisions stored,

Cape Cod, our dearest, native land,
We leave astern, and lose
Its sinking cliffs and lessening sands,
While Zephyr gently blows.

Bold, hardy men, with blooming age,
Our sandy shores produce;
With monstrous fish they dare engage,
And dangerous callings choose.

Now towards the early dawning east
We speed our course away,
With eager minds, and joyful hearts,
To meet the rising day.

Then as we turn our wondering eyes,
We view one constant show;
Above, around, the circling skies,
The rolling seas below.

When eastward, clear of Newfoundland,
We stem the frozen pole.
We see the icy islands stand,

The northern billows roll.

As to the north we make our way,
Surprising scenes we find;
We lengthen out the tedious day,
And leave the night behind.

Now see the northern regions, where
Eternal winter reigns;

One day and night fills up the year,
And endless cold maintains.

We view the monsters of the deep,
Great whales in numerous swarms;
And creatures there, that play and leap,
Of strange, unusual forms.

When in our station we are placed,
And whales around us play,
We launch our boats into the main,
And swiftly chase our prey.

In haste we ply our nimble oars,
For an assault design'd;
The sea beneath us foams and roars,
And leaves a wake behind.

A mighty whale we rush upon,
And in our irons throw:
She sinks her monstrous body down
Among the waves below.

And when she rises out again,
We soon renew the fight;
Thrust our sharp lances in amain,
And all her rage excite.

Enraged, she makes a mighty bound;
Thick foams the whiten'd sea;
The waves in circles rise around,
And widening roll away.

She thrashes with her tail around,
And blows her redd'ning breath;
She breaks the air, a deafning sound,
While ocean groans beneath.

From numerous wounds, with crimson flood
She stains the frothy seas,

And gasps, and blows her latest blood,
While quivering life decays.

With joyful hearts we see her die,
And on the surface lay;
While all with eager haste apply,
To save our deathful prey.

HADDAM.

THE lands in this town, with those in East Haddam, were long denominated the lands at Thirty Mile Island, from the island in Connecticut river, which was calculated to be thirty miles from its mouth. The Indian title to the lands was purchased in 1662, for thirty coats, which may have been worth one hundred dollars. The deed obtained from the Indians, comprehended all the lands from the straits, six miles east and west from the river, down to the lower side of Chester Meadow; excepting Thirty Mile Island, and 40 acres at Pattaquonk, (Ches

ter,) Twenty Mile Island, and on the adjacent shore eastward, running up to Salmon River Cove. The lands thus purchased, were taken up by twenty eight young men, mostly from Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor, who in the summer of 1662, or soon after, settled upon them. Their names were Ackley, Arnold, Bailey, Brainard, Brooks, Clarke, Cone, Gates, Shayler, two Spencers, two Smiths, Ventres, Wells, Bates, Butler, Corbe, Dibble, Ganes, Hannison, Jones, Luxford, Parents, Piper, Stannard, Webb, and Wiat. These proprietors settled at first within the limits of Haddam Society. They settled generally on the rising ground back from the town meadow, beginning at the eastern point of Walkley Hill, and so extending down to the grave yard, where some of their cellars are still visible. Bates, Dibble, Ganes, Hannison, Jones, Parents, and Ventres, settled on the plain below Mill Creek, and were called the Lower Plantation. The Indians remained on their reservations for many years. They had a place of resort in a deep hollow on Haddam Neck, to the north east, which is still known by the name of Indian Hollow, as the brook running through it is, by the name of Indian Brook. They had no name for the township of Haddam at large, but called the northern part of Haddam Society Higganompos, which the English have changed to Higganum, and now apply it to a stream of water, and to the neighborhood about its mouth. The western part of this society they called Cockaponset, which the English have changed to Punset.

Haddam was incorporated as a town in 1668. At this time it belonged to the county of Hartford, and so continued till the formation of Middlesex County, in 1785. On account of its central situation, it was constituted the semi-seat of justice for this county, and has so continued ever since. The town lies on both sides of Connecticut River. Haddam Society is on the west side of the river, and is by far the largest division of the town: it is about 7 miles long, and from 4 to 6 broad; bounded N. by Middletown, W. by Durham, and S. by Killingworth and Chester. The part of the town lying on the east side of the river, is called Haddam Neck, which is a point of land, 4 miles in length, 4 miles across on the north, coming to a point at the mouth of Salmon River. This river bounds Haddam Neck on the east. This township is the commencement of the granitic district, extending to the mouth of Connecticut River. It is considerably rough and broken, being hilly and stony.

There is but little alluvial soil upon Connecticut River, but the lands upon its borders are more smooth, and better adapted for cultivation. The prevailing soil is a gravelly loam, hard and dry. The forests are considerably extensive, and considerable quantities of wood are annually sent to market. There are 4 houses of worship in the town, 1 Congregational, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist on the west side, and 1 Methodist church on Haddam Neck.

The following view was taken at a point on a hill upwards of half a mile N. W. from the court house, a few rods east from the main road. Connecticut River is seen on the left; also the mouth of Salmon River, and the southern extremity of Haddam Neck, on the east side of Con

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necticut River. East Haddam Landing is faintly seen in the distance, near the mouth of Salmon River, just rising above the lower extremity of a hill on the west side of the river. The court house appears nearly in the center of the engraving. It is constructed of granite, and was erected in 1829: it has a small spire attached to it, and fronts the south. The large building seen on the right, is the Congregational church; it is about half a mile in a westerly direction from the court house. On the hill which rises in the distance, between and beyond the church and court house, is seen the situation of part of the granite quarries, about 100 rods from the river.

In the limits of this town are several valuable granite quarries, on both sides of the river. The first opening was made at Quarry Hill, on Haddam Neck, about 1762. Since that time several other openings have been made in this hill. These are from 50 to 70 rods from the river. This stone is usually a little below the surface, and is exhibited in nearly perpendicular strata, and is valuable for building, paving, &c. On a hill below Haddam street, several quarries are now improved, the first of which was opened about 1794: besides these, there are others which are worked in the western part of the town. This stone is sold from 10 to 20 cents by the foot, and is carried as far south as Savannah and New Orleans. At this time about 150 men are employed at the quarries in this town, and from 60 to 70,000 dollars worth of stone are annually exported. Ship building is also carried on to some extent in this town. A sloop was launched at Higganum Landing in 1754; and for most of the time since, ship building has been a regular business at this place.

The following is a representation of the spot, looking towards the north, where that devoted missionary, David Brainerd, first drew his breath. The house in which he was born, was probably built 160 or 170 years since. It was a one story building, 40 by 30 feet, with a portico by the south door. After this house was taken down, another was built on

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